Program Overview and Philosophy

The graduate program is fully accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and offers special education certification at the Master's level.

We are strongly committed to the preparation of highly qualified educators who are not only skilled practitioners and/or researchers but also are leaders in establishing effective teaching and learning environments for individuals with disabilities in their school and community.

The philosophy that underlies the program's curriculum and the activities of the program's faculty include
the following :

• A person-centered approach
• Cross-categorical training
• Assessment-based practices
• Experiential learning
• Innovation in research and practice

The following values underlie course work, research, and training experiences.